Maldives authorities have detained 175 supporters of jailed former president Mohamed Nasheed for two weeks, according to court documents Sunday, after the U.S. warned that democracy was in danger on the honeymoon islands.

Police fired tear gas and baton-charged protesters demanding Nasheed's release at a demonstration in the tiny capital island of Male on Friday night, arresting 193 people.

The United Nations Friday criticized the Maldives for jailing its former president after a "vastly unfair trail" as police in the honeymoon destination's capital teargassed protesters demanding his release.

The latest U.N. censure came as international experts, including London-based human rights lawyer Amal Clooney, petitioned the world body over the controversial jailing of Mohamed Nasheed for 13 years.

Jailed former Maldives president Mohamed Nasheed on Wednesday accused authorities of scuttling his appeal against his controversial conviction and jailing for 13 years under tough anti-terror laws.

Nasheed's spokesman said the honeymoon islands' first democratically elected president has been denied a copy of the trial proceedings which he needs to lodge an appeal.

The Maldives government Monday vowed to resist mounting foreign pressure to free former president Mohamed Nasheed after he was jailed for 13 years but admitted its justice system was below international standards.

Foreign Minister Dunya Maumoon, the daughter of former strongman Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, told reporters in Sri Lanka that her government would not interfere with the decision of courts which she insisted were independent.

Former Maldives president and opposition leader Mohamed Nasheed has been sentenced to 13 years in prison on a terrorism charge after what rights groups said was a "flawed" trial, sparking international concern over the honeymoon islands.

Nasheed called on his supporters to take to the streets to protest against the sentence after a trial his party said was "blatantly politicized".

Maldives police said Saturday they arrested 31 supporters of former president Mohamed Nasheed during a mass rally in the honeymoon islands' capital to protest his detention on terror charges. 

Police said the supporters were taken into custody late Friday after thousands took to the streets of Male over authorities' treatment of Nasheed, whose detention has sparked international condemnation.

Thousands of supporters of former Maldives president Mohamed Nasheed marched in the honeymoon islands' tiny capital Friday, protesting his detention on terror charges which have sparked international condemnation.

Crowds streamed onto Male from early Friday for the two and a half hour rally, angered by news that Nasheed had been given just three days to prepare his defense for his latest court appearance.

The United States and regional power India voiced concern after former Maldives president Mohamed Nasheed was forcibly dragged into court to face terrorism charges, and denied legal access and medical treatment.

Nasheed, who was ousted three years ago, was denied bail in a brief hearing Monday after being arrested on what critics have labelled "trumped-up charges" designed to shut down growing opposition to the government of President Abdulla Yameen.

Police in the Maldives Sunday arrested former president Mohamed Nasheed under an anti-terror law for the alleged illegal detention of a judge when he was in power more than three years ago.

Nasheed, the country's first democratically elected president who now leads the main opposition party, was taken into custody in the capital island of Male, police said.

Former Maldivian president Mohamed Nasheed feared for his life after receiving a death threat from Islamist extremists while visiting Britain, his office said Sunday.

The former leader, who was toppled in what he claimed was a coup backed by Islamic radicals in February 2012, received the latest death threat while attending last week's Conservative Party convention.